Planning and Recovering From Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy
Let’s start with my own tonsillectomy recovery story. I wasn’t always this healthy. As a kid I ingested more penicillin than a corporate-raised chicken. I was in the doctor’s office several times each year with a sore throat. As the doctor or nurse peered into my mouth, the reaction was always the same: “Whoa, those are some big tonsils!” The diagnosis was usually tonsillitis, or strep throat. As the doctor wrote the prescription, he’d explain that years ago, tonsils like mine would have been removed, but, “these days,” we try to hang onto them. “These days,” were the 1970’s. I guess the tonsillectomy pendulum had swung back from the days when kids got their tonsils out because their brother was getting his out.
Aunt Kate’s reassurance helped, but I still wrote out some just-in-case instructions for my brother and hid them in my closet. I sheepishly told him where they were, just in case.
“This is temporary. You WILL feel better. Hang in there and stay hydrated!” -Greg Tooke
As an adult I continued to suffer from frequent bouts of tonsillitis. It seemed that I caught every bug that passed through my house or workplace. I guess those big ugly tonsils were a nice home for those nasties. It wasn’t until my 40’s that I also became aware that I suffered from something called, Obstructive Sleep Apnea -a condition in which a person stops breathing while asleep. I snored often and would awake abruptly, gulping in big breaths. I felt tired most days. After raising four babies, I had come to accept fatigue as a normal part of life! One day at a routine physical my doctor remarked about the number of episodes of strep throat and tonsillitis I’d had. We also talked about the sleep problems. While he didn’t formally diagnose obstructive sleep apnea, he suspected that I had it. He recommended a tonsillectomy, because of all the tonsil problems I’d had. As a bonus, I might find relief from the sleep apnea as well. If not, I’d undergo a sleep study. Forty four years old and father of four boys and a doctor finally said it: Those tonsils are doing you more harm than good! As much as I hated those tonsils, I was terrified at the thought of going under the knife. I started reading about tonsillectomy recovery on the internet and talking to friends. That didn’t help. “My cousin knew a guy who got a tonsillectomy and bled to death.” “At your age, tonsillectomy is dangerous.” When I met with the ear, nose and throat specialist, (an otolaryngologist), he told me that the risks are the same for an adult undergoing tonsillectomy surgery as for a child, but tonsillectomy recovery is longer and more painful. He was right about that!
Deciding to get a Tonsillectomy
I scheduled the surgery for the day after Thanksgiving. A traditional day of feasting in the United States. If it was to be my last meal, I planned to make it a good one! As it turned out, I was so nervous and scared that I could hardly eat on that day. I was recently divorced and had shared placement of my four boys. So many people counted on me that I began to question my decision. What if I died on the table? How reckless to leave behind a family, simply to avoid frequent tonsillitis? My aunt, a registered nurse reassured me about how simple the surgery was, and how far anesthesiology had come. I had nothing to worry about. Aunt Kate’s reassurance helped, but I still wrote out some just-in-case instructions for my brother and hid them in my closet. I sheepishly told him where they were, just in case
“My tonsils were like a 400 pound gorilla on my back. I don’t miss them at all. Ever.” -from the forum ________________________________________________________________________________
I took a week off from work, asked my ex wife to take care of the boys that week, and asked my uncle to drive me to and from the hospital. (a requirement with anesthesia) That was about all the tonsillectomy recovery preparation I did. I was about to learn a lot! Surgery went fine. I awoke in recovery with a serving of Jell-o in front of me. (“Jelly,” to my British friends) The nurse said that I had to finish it before I could check out. I swallowed it with great relish. It was divine! I called my uncle and we were out of there. I felt ok. I told him thanks and not to worry. I’d be fine. I believed this. Aside from a couple visits, I spent the next ten days alone in misery. The pain set in after about 24 hours. Streaming movies and television shows were my friends. Sleeping became my worst enemy. I’d wake up with my mouth dried out and my throat on fire. Oh my God. I was not prepared for this! I ran out of Popsicle’s on day three. I ran out of pain medicine on day five. The pain peaked on day seven. I broke down and cried in front of my brother on day eight- a combination of pain, drug induced depression, and sleep deprivation. Since then, I’ve read thousands of similar accounts on the tonsillectomy forum I created. It didn’t have to be so hard. If I’d known what I do now, I could have done so much to make my tonsillectomy recovery better. I hope to reach as many people as I can to help guide them through the tunnel. It has been my passion and taught me more about compassion and the amazing strength of the human spirit than any other life experience. When you shine a light for others, you also light your own path.
In the pages at follow, I’ll share tonsillectomy recovery tips with you that I learned from my tonsillectomy experience and years of coaching others through tonsillectomy and recovery.
Hi 43 year old male had three procedures done at once so tonsils is not my only issue but I agree with this forum ice peas and lots of water I am in Day 8 and I hate waking up to a dry mouth it makes me shiver and feel weak until I get the energy to eat a popsicle and then take some pain meds which by the way run like hell
Hi Milan, A dry throat for several weeks is a frequently reported side effect. Be sure to check the drop-down menu at the top of this page. Our forum host, Greg, has accumulated some Very helpful hints. Check it out! Good luck, and a speedy recovery! Jan
I am 20 yo female, and I had my surgery May 15, first 4 days were a walk in the park. I only used my 800mg ibuprofen the doctor gave me. Haven’t been eating much however. Days 5-7 (which I’m just finishing) were much more painful. I had to take two small doses of oxy on day 5 and a small dose this morning as I woke up in the worst pain of my life. Scabs are starting to come off which I think is the root of the pain. But boy is it a big pain. This seems to be the low point everyone is talking about, so hopefully things will get better from here.
I have an event I need to attend this Saturday (with really good food I hope I can eat) it would be day 12. Thoughts from anyone who is on days 11-14??
I’m on day 13 still can’t sleep well but eating is much easier. I can pretty much eat whatever I want. It chewing is exhausting and you literally get super tired just from chewing. Because your teeth jaw tongue are weak. Fyi 42 year old female.
Hi Angela, you are simply using muscles you havent used in awhile. Doesnt take much to spoon broth and swallow soft diet, right? Now you have to work for it, but won’t take long. Give it some more time, you’ll be fine. Keep up the good work, and hang in there. Gradual return to regular diet should be set at your own pace. 🙂
Be sure to check out drop-down menu at the top of this page, created by our forum host, Greg, with amazing tips. Good luck, and a speedy recovery.
Jan
ALEXIS, Sounds like you ARE DOING EXTREMELY well. How was your event?
Jan
I’m on day 9 of recovery and at this point it just feels like I have strep. Most of the pain is gone, and I’m pretty much back to eating normal foods. The biggest issue I’ve had is waking up with a dry mouth and throat. This is the only time the pain is severe enough for me to take a dose of pain medicine. Other then that I’ve been taking extra strength Tylenol here and there, becaisenliquod vicodin is no longer necessary every 4 hours. At first the pain was miserable and my voice was very altered, however now I’m talking clearly and have way less pain. Keep yourself hydrated, don’t be afraid to ask for more pain medicine, and please don’t be a baby about it . A tonsillectomy is a simple procedure, while it’s painful it’s not the end of the world. I’ve seen too many stories of people exclaiming how terrible this surgery was and how the pain lasted for such a long time. Children heal faster than adults. As and adult, be one,hydrate yourself, take your meds, rest, and look forward to no more tonsillitis.
FOR THE BAD BREATH TONSILLECTOMIES: hey guys just wanted to post because I used to come here a lot and I struggled with my breath before so I wanted to spread some hope. It’s been a year since my tonsillectomy and my bad breath(tonsil stones) is GONE. Yay. Hang in there, the pain sucks but it was worth it. Btw make sure it’s your tonsils that are causing it before you get surgery, you may end up disappointed post surgery if they aren’t the sole contributor.
Kay: Thanks for sharing. The ENT told me as well my bad breath could be from something else besides the tonsil stones. I am looking into everything before a tonsillectomy. Did your doctor fully examine you for the tonsil stones? I saw 4 different ENT doctors and never got a full exam. They were all willing to give me a tonsillectomy anyway. I am horrified to have this done, but know if the stones are the culprit, my life will be so much better once they are removed .
Hi Kay, I am very glad for you and want to say that by giving this information here you are helping hundred of people. Could you please tell the BB gone immediately after surgery or after completely recovery?
thank you very much!
Hi Kay could you please tell is your tonsils was beg or small because mine is really small but infected and I removed some tonsil stones.
17 yr old (M) I always read threads and never usually comment on them once I’m passed the whole experience and pain myself but this time I feel like I should as I had a lot of help from this forum myself so I think I will offer some tips too
Day 1- I woke up from surgery in the post op ward and was greeted by a very nice nurse who told me the operation went well and asked if I would like some more pain relief to which I said yes, I was given morphine and slept for about forty five mins until I was wheeled back up to my room, The pain was basically non existent because of the powerful drugs I was on and I was overall in a good mood, I was given an omlette and a bowel of soup after surgery but felt very nauseous due to the anaesthetic so I couldn’t eat it, the nausea persisted for a few hours and eventually went.
I stayed the night at the hospital and woke up nearly every hour sweating and in pain I thought the night would never end and I still felt kinda woozy after the anaesthetic which didn’t help matters, I was discharged in the morning after getting more pain relief and I went home.
Day 2- I was drugged up to the max on pain killers and felt little to no pain at all, I also slept the whole night through and was quiet content when I woke up that it wasn’t as bad as everyone said it’d be unaware of what was going to come in the following days
Days 3-7- these were the worst days, I struggled to swallow my own saliva and honestly in these days I just felt like dying it was so bad, the pain was unbearable and my pain killers were doing nothing for me, I set an alarm every half hour at night to wake up and sip some water as I found the morning the worst because my throat would dry up when I went to sleep and the pain in the morning was a solid 12/10, I found that sucking on mints was great it kept my saliva slippery and it would just slide down my throat, I also regularly garggled with Coca Cola as my doctor told me this helps and he was right too.
Days 7-present(day 13) – I noticed the horrible green slime had started to peel off the tonsills beds and this was my scabs falling off, by day 8 I was off all my pain killers as I wasn’t in much pain at all, the scabs falling off caused no pain at all and I’m finally getting back to eating normal dinners and food today (day 13) it still feels strange and there is a slight pain but I’m sure it’ll ease away in another few days
Tips: Keep hydrated drink when you don’t even need a drink and take your pain killers on time don’t take them when you start to feel pain, I would also strongly recommend sucking on mints as I found this really really helpful.
I am glad they are out now as I suffered with a allot of severe tonsillitis over the years but on days 3-7 I would of take 100 bouts of tonsillitis because the pain was so severe, I would nearly go as far as not recommending a tonsillectomy as the pain is so much worse than any tonsillitis I’ve ever experienced.
Any questions feel free to ask
J, this is great! Thanks so much for stopping back. Take care!
Have you had tomato sauce at all? In pasta or pizza perhaps? I have heard that it burns really bad but as many days out as you are maybe you can speak to this?
Is seemed to get inflamed after eating spagetti….but not so much during. I had created scan and all was clear. My right cheek still bothers me as I still get inflammation mostly right side. It comes and goes and still feels like piece of something is back there. My lumps went away……thank the Lord but I don’t get the residual swelling and discomfort that comes and goes….my surgeryveas on April 7……..im 6 weeks out…….they treat me like I’m nuts.